STEP
Imagine it
Choose a supernatural problem and invent a product that solves it-or makes the situation hilariously worse.
Halloween 2026 · Team + Individual Challenge
FIDUS
MAD LAB
The world has a supernatural problem. You have been hired to invent the impossible.
FIDUS / CONCEPT 001R&D / HALLOWEEN
PHANTOMv.10.29
PARANORMAL SIGNALDETECTED
BOO!
SPECIFICATION: IMPOSSIBLESTATUS: CURSED
One minimum per teamIndividual entries welcome, too
One ridiculous curseEvery solution has a side effect
2-3 minute pitchSell it to the Fidus audience
Your mission
Build the unbelievable
Every department becomes a mini startup and creates at least one invention to present live at the Haunted Tech Expo. Want to enter on your own as well? Go for it! Invent a creative, ridiculous, or unexpectedly useful Halloween product-and convince the world it needs to exist.
STEP
Bring it to life
Use a mock-up, fake PCB, CAD model, AI concept, packaging, slides, or a demo. No working prototype required.
STEP
Pitch the madness
Name it. Price it. Give it a slogan. Then make your case at the Fidus Haunted Tech Expo.
HOW TO TAKE PARTInvent it. Register it. Pitch it.
Register your invention Register your invention by October 27 so the organizers can plan the Expo lineup and presentation setup. Present your 2-3 minute pitch live on October 29 - no files or finished creations are due in advance. After the competition, share any digital creations through SharePoint.
Inspiration engine
Need a spooky problem?
Hit the generator for an absurd starting point. Use it, remix it, or ignore it and invent something even stranger.
Current supernatural emergency
Ghosts are accessing confidential engineering files through the office Wi-Fi.
Possible invention: GhostWall 3000 - paranormal cybersecurity, now with extra hauntings.
Mandatory twists
Every breakthrough has a dark side
These two ingredients must appear in every invention and pitch - team or individual.
TWIST A / THE CURSE
It has a side effect
Your invention fixes one problem but causes another. Make the unintended consequence funny, spooky, or gloriously impractical.
Example: The GhostWall blocks spirits perfectly-but also blocks all project managers from Teams.
TWIST B / THE PITCH
Sell it like a startup
Give your invention a product name, slogan, price, and a 2-3 minute investor-style pitch. The audience is your investment committee.
Example: “ScopeBuster X™ - because your requirements should stay dead.”
Competition guide
Simple rules. Maximum imagination.
Each department prepares at least one invention to present live at the Expo. You can also invent and pitch something on your own - no advance submission required.
Solve a supernatural problem, create a spooky problem, or give an everyday engineering or office challenge a Halloween twist.
A drawing, presentation, mock-up, or fictional demo is enough. Creativity counts more than production quality or budget. Any digital creations can be shared via SharePoint after the competition.
Every product needs a funny unintended side effect, a name, a slogan, a price, and a short sales pitch.
Team entries should include remote and in-office colleagues wherever possible. Individuals can also present their own separate invention. Keep effort reasonable.
Avoid real client data, proprietary designs, confidential project details, and unapproved employee photos or recordings.
Award nominations
Who will take home the madness?
Every invention gets its moment. Final categories and voting details will be confirmed by the organizers.
Mad Scientist Award
Best overall Halloween invention - creativity, concept, and execution.
Most Ridiculous Innovation
The funniest, wildest product that nobody knew they needed.
Best Cursed Side Effect
The most hilariously disastrous consequence of a brilliant idea.
Best Startup Pitch
The most persuasive presentation of a completely absurd invention.
Grand finale
The Fidus Haunted Tech Expo
Teams and individual inventors unveil their products, deliver their pitches, and compete for the title of Fidus's maddest innovators.
Live reveal · Team + solo pitches · Audience voting
Get ready to pitch the impossible
Register your invention by October 27, then bring it to the Expo on October 29 for a live 2-3 minute pitch. Expect wild ideas, questionable business models, and truly cursed product launches.
ADMIT ONE · MAD LABOCT 29THURSDAY · 2026LIVE INVENTION PITCHES
CONTACT THE LAB
Questions from the other side?
Questions about your invention, the rules, or Expo logistics such as time, venue, and remote participation? Send a signal to the organizers.
halloween@fidus.com TRANSMIT YOUR QUESTION ↗
Unofficial R&D / Interactive experiments
Enter the classified lab
Two entirely unapproved tools from the Fidus research department. Results are scientifically questionable and entirely fictional.
◈ CLASSIFIED HINT: The Fidus logo knows something. Tap it five times quickly to unlock a secret report.
EXPERIMENT 01 / CURSE ENGINE
Is your invention cursed?
Submit your product name for an extremely unreliable paranormal quality-assurance assessment.
No information is submitted or saved. All results are fictional.
EXPERIMENT 02 / PERSONNEL DATABASE
Mad Scientist ID generator
Every questionable breakthrough needs a scientist with even more questionable credentials.